Former SPTC technician wants E200 000 for unfair dismissal

MBABANE-A former employee from the Swaziland Posts and Telecommunic-ations Corporation (SPTC) wants the company to pay him about E200 000.

Jabulani Louis Masuku of Sidvokodvo alleges that he was employed as a technician by the company on December 12, 1988 and was dismissed on April 28, 2005. He states that he was stationed at the Satellite Earth Station in Ezulwini and that he conducted his duties diligently which resulted in him not getting on well with some of his superiors, whom he claims were less qualified than him.

He says he was dismissed for allegedly raising concerns about the unprofessional conduct of some members of management and his colleagues. The concerns which he says he raised led to the appointment of two commissions of enquiry in 2005.

Masuku says when the commissions were set up, he made submissions with regards to the conduct of some members of management and other staff members which did not go down well with his superiors and the worker’s union.

After making the submissions, Masuku says that life did not become easy for him at his work station – so bad in fact, that he was charged for allegedly not reporting for work for about four months.

He says the charge was not clearly spelt out and his rights were violated during his appearance before the disciplinary hearing in which his case was tried. He alleges that he was not given an opportunity to present his case and to challenge the allegations against him.

At the time of his dismissal, Masuku claims he was earning E128 124 per annum.

He wants the company to either reinstate him or pay him E196 195.35 as compensation for unfair dismissal.